The short version
- Principle 2 requires feed mills to conduct Due Diligence on ingredient manufacturers and primary raw material producers for all ingredients exceeding one percent of annual aquafeed volume.
- Four distinct Due Diligence pathways are available: Country Risk Score Cards, Sectoral or Fishery Assessments, Ingredient Manufacturer Assessments, and Accepted Certification Schemes.
- Due Diligence evaluates specific legal, social, and environmental risk factors across the supply chain, requiring a Low Risk outcome to qualify as an eligible ingredient.
- A temporary exception under Version 1.2 permits Medium Risk primary raw materials for up to three years until February 2, 2029, provided the ingredient manufacturer is Low Risk and progressive improve
Sourcing raw materials responsibly is a foundational requirement of the ASC Feed Standard V1.2. Under Principle 2, certified feed mills must operate a formal Due Diligence system to evaluate social, legal, and environmental risks associated with ingredient manufacturers and primary raw material production.
Scope of Due Diligence Requirements
Due Diligence applies to any unique ingredient from an individual manufacturer that represents more than one percent of the total annual ingredient weight received by the mill for use in aquafeed. Excluded from this requirement are micro-ingredients and additives such as vitamins, minerals, premixes, trace elements, and colorants.
The Due Diligence process covers two distinct levels of the supply chain:
- Ingredient Manufacturers: Facilities performing the primary processing of ingredients. Risk factors assessed at this level include legal operating licenses, labor compliance, prohibition of forced and child labor, anti-discrimination, grievance mechanisms, environmental management, water usage, waste and effluent handling, greenhouse gas monitoring, and disclosures regarding genetically modified organisms and medicinal additives.
- Primary Raw Material Producers: The farms, plantations, or fisheries producing the raw inputs prior to processing. Risk factors evaluated include illegal fishing, land use violations, forced labor, child labor, illegal deforestation or land conversion, and threats to endangered species on IUCN or CITES lists.
- Maintain an Updated Ingredient List: Keep detailed internal records of all ingredients exceeding the one percent threshold, including manufacturer contact details, species names, and country or FAO fishing area of origin.
- Publish Annual Origin Summaries: Annually publish the list of raw materials and country or fishery origins, excluding commercially sensitive manufacturer names, to ensure supply chain transparency.
- Establish Re-Assessment Triggers: Repeat Due Diligence assessments whenever supply chain monitoring signals a change in risk levels, when significant supplier changes occur, or at least once every three-year certification cycle.
- ASC Feed Standard V1.2 (Criterion 2.1, Criterion 2.2, Appendix 3, Appendix 5, Appendix 10, Appendix 11)
- ASC Feed Standard Interpretation Manual V1.2 (Criterion 2.1, Criterion 2.2, Appendix 3, Appendix 10, Appendix 11)
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